Suburban report.

County Allowed Out Of Border Lawsuit

November 01, 1998|By Hal Dardick.

North Aurora has dropped a suit it filed against Kane County over the county's role in a border dispute with Aurora.

"We had an agreement with the county, which was the subject of the lawsuit," said Kevin Drendel, North Aurora village attorney. "But our primary issue really was elsewhere." That "elsewhere" was Aurora, Drendel conceded.

The dispute began in the summer, when Aurora sought an access point on Orchard Road north of Interstate Highway 88 for a potential auto mall, hotel and restaurant development. The project would have been just south of an auto mall in North Aurora that is a major component of the village's economic development strategy.

North Aurora had an intergovernmental agreement with Kane County that barred more access points on Orchard.

The developer, Bricks Inc., approached Aurora with the plans after North Aurora informed the developer the project would not be possible.

Based on a new full Orchard interchange off the East-West Tollway, Aurora was able to get a preliminary OK from the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority permitting another access point. Aurora then went to Kane County to make a request.

North Aurora sued the county in an attempt to block the access point but has dropped the suit. A decision on the access point is now being considered by the County Board Transportation Committee.

"Aurora has taken a position that doesn't reasonably lead to a settlement," Drendel said. "It would have to be some change on Aurora's part to bring us back together. There isn't room for anyone to move except Aurora."

Bill Catching, spokesman for Aurora Mayor David Stover, declined to comment on the talks.